Seyyed ''Sayyid'' is an honorific title of Hasanid and Husaynid lineage, recognized as descendants of the Islamic prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and Ali's sons Hasan and Husayn. The title may also refer to the descendants of the fa ...

Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem (), also known as "

Ayatollah Ayatollah (, ; ; ) is an Title of honor, honorific title for high-ranking Twelver Shia clergy. It came into widespread usage in the 20th century. Originally used as a title bestowed by popular/clerical acclaim for a small number of the most di ...

Ale-Hashem" (18 August 1962 – 19 May 2024) was an Iranian jurist and

Twelver Shia Twelver Shi'ism (), also known as Imamism () or Ithna Ashari, is the largest branch of Shi'a Islam, comprising about 90% of all Shi'a Muslims. The term ''Twelver'' refers to its adherents' belief in twelve divinely ordained leaders, known as th ...

cleric Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

who was the representative of Vali-e-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) in the province of

East Azerbaijan East Azerbaijan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Tabriz. The province is located in Iranian Azerbaijan, bordering Armenia, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ardabil province, West Azerbaijan province ...

, and

Imam of Friday Prayer The Imam of Friday Prayer (), or ''Imam Jom'a'' (''Jumu'ah''), is the person who conducts the Friday prayer in Islam and preaches related sermons. Qualifications to serve An Imam of Friday Prayer is expected to be distinguished for intellect ...

in Tabriz. Ale-Hashem was killed in the 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash alongside then President of Iran,

Ebrahim Raisi Ebrahim Raisolsadati (14 December 1960 – 19 May 2024), better known as Ebrahim Raisi, was an Iranian politician who served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash, his death in a helicopter crash in 202 ...

and six others on board.

Biography

He was active during the Iran-Iraq War, and possessed the educational degree of Hawzah at "level 4" (Doctoral). Likewise, he passed his Kharij-Feqh lessons (of Hawzah) in the classes of Iran's current

supreme leader A supreme leader or supreme ruler typically refers to powerful figures with an unchallenged authority, such as autocrats, dictators to spiritual and revolutionary leaders. Historic examples are Adolf Hitler () of Nazi Germany, Francisco ...

Ali Khamenei Ali Hosseini Khamenei (; born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third President of Iran, president from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei's tenure ...

. He was also the head of the "Political Ideological Organization of the

Islamic Republic of Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

's Army" before being appointed the position of Vali-e-Faqih representative in East-Azerbaijan Province and Tabriz Imam-Jom'ah.

Personal life

Ale-Hashem was born on 18 August 1962. He had his education up to high school in his hometown, and afterwards moved to

Qom Qom (; ) is a city in the Central District of Qom County, Qom province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is the seventh largest metropolis and also the seventh largest city in Iran. The city is ...

for higher education at

Hawzah A hawza () or ḥawzah ʿilmīyah () is the collective term (plural hawzat) for a ''madrasa'' (i.e. seminary) where Marja', Shi'a Muslim scholars are educated. The word ''ḥawzah'' is Arabic, and has been adopted into Persian as a loan word. ...

Death

On 19 May 2024, a helicopter carrying Ale-Hashem, Iranian Foreign Minister

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (; 23 April 1964 – 19 May 2024) was an Iranian politician and diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (Iran), foreign minister of Iran from 2021 until 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash, his death in a helicopter ...

and Iranian President

crashed near the

Azerbaijan–Iran border The Azerbaijan–Iran border (, ) is 689 km (428 mi) in length and consists of two non-contiguous sections separated by the 44-km long Armenia–Iran border. Description Western (Nakchivan) section The border starts in the north-west at t ...

, killing all eight on board. He answered two phone calls after the crash, according to Gholamhossein Esmaili, who was aboard one of the helicopters in Raisi’s entourage. At a meeting of the

Assembly of Experts The Assembly of Experts (), also translated as the Assembly of Experts of the Leadership or as the Council of Experts, is the deliberative body empowered to appoint the Supreme Leader of Iran. All directly elected members must first be vetted ...

on 21 May, a flower-ringed portrait of Ale-Hashem was placed on his seat.

References

1962 births 2024 deaths Representatives of the supreme leader in the provinces of Iran Shia clerics from Tabriz Iranian ayatollahs Combatant Clergy Association politicians Politicians from Tabriz 21st-century Muslims 21st-century Iranian politicians 21st-century clergy Victims of the 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash {{Iran-bio-stub

Biography

Personal life

Death

See also

References